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Citibank offers a host of American Airlines co-branded credit cards, and the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ MasterCard® offers a ton of value for AAdvantage members. With a lucrative signup bonus and great perks, let's take a look at the perks and benefits of the card, to help you decide if it's a card to hold for the long-term.

Signup Bonus

The current signup bonus for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ MasterCard® is 60,000 bonus AAdvantage miles after making $3,000 in purchases during the first three months of having the card. This is more than enough for two round-trip economy off-peak award fares to the Caribbean, a very valuable perk.

Priority Boarding

Receive priority boarding on American Airlines flights just for holding the AA Elite MasterCard.

Earn Tons of Miles

You can earn double AAdvantage miles on all eligible American Airlines purchases. Plus, you will receive 10% of your redeemed AAdvantage miles back at the end of each calendar year, up to a total of 10,000 miles. For example, if you redeem 100,000 AA miles for an international award trip, you'll receive 10,000 miles back! Earn 1 point per dollar on all non-bonus spending.

Extra Savings Perks

Cardholders receive a 25% savings on all in-flight food and beverage purchases when you use your AA Elite MasterCard while traveling.

Free Checked Bags

When you travel on American Airlines, you will be able to check your first bag for free, for yourself and up to four of your traveling companions. All travelers must be on the same reservation to enjoy this perk. Getting free checked bags can easily save you enough money to justify the annual fee on this card.

Annual Fee Waived for the First Year

For the first year, the $95 annual fee is waived. When you consider the $95 savings, plus the huge signup bonus, this starts to become a very attractive offer.

Great For International Travel

Because there are no foreign transaction fees on purchases when you use the AA Elite MasterCard, you will save money when traveling internationally. Additionally, the chip technology provides an extra layer of security when traveling, to protect your personal information better than traditional credit card security measures.

Conclusion

The AA Elite MasterCard is a great card for travelers who prefer American Airlines. The annual fee is waived the first year, and the 60,000 AA mile signup bonus, makes this a great card if you have some upcoming travel plans that involve AA or oneworld®.

If you prefer more flexibility, or prefer to travel with Star Alliance (e.g., United) or SkyTeam Partners (e.g., Delta), then you will want to explore cards that offer a wider variety of redemption options. AAdvantage miles can only be redeemed for airline flights on the Oneworld Alliance and American's airline partners, and not used for other types of travel rewards.

This card offers some important perks like free checked bags (which can add up, especially with groups of travelers). But, make sure you know what you are looking for before signing up!

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